Big Fat Chance

Blogging vacation

2007-03-29T21:11:00.000-02:30

Okay, so work and school are proving to be too much for a blogger to handle. So I've decided to go on a blogging vacation for a couple of months.

However, I have decided that once I come back, my Big Fat Chance website will be bigger and better than ever. I'm going to be spending my time off creating an all new web page and with a more defined theme and purpose.

When I've done this I'll be sure to pop back here with an update to let everyone know.

Untill then, cheers!

8-week GoodLife Challenge

2007-02-01T22:39:00.000-03:30

So we've decided to have a bit of fun at work. Myself and the rest of the Management Trainees have each been assigned a personal trainer, and starting today we will begin an 8-week program with our trainers to help show the benefit of training.

So today myself and my trainer Liam had our first meeting, were Liam basically did a fitness assessment on me. This is something I really wish I had done before I began trying to lose weight because it was really cool.

Anyway, I've decided to post the stats from todays assessment:

Height: 5'5''
Weight: 217.6 lbs
Body fat: 33.9%
Resting blood pressure: 124/90
Resting heart rate: 72 bpm
Upper arm: 35.5 cm
Chest: 110.5 cm
Waist: 107.5 cm
Buttocks: 113.0 cm
Thigh: 67.0 cm
Calf: 41.0 cm

So after the assessment we decided that my main goal during the challenge will be to improve my body composition by losing 15 pounds of fat, and two improve my muscle mass by 6-8 pounds.

But besides for that the club is open and it is a world class facility. I've never been in a nicer club. Since we opened last week I've circuit trained twice, completed my first group cycling class (and that class kicked my ass hard), and a couple of days of cardio.

All in all, it's safe to say I'm back on track and can't wait till June when I finally graduate and can focus on performing well at my job and on running the marathon!

Kris Holm Freeride video

2007-01-22T02:18:00.001-03:30

I've decided that I have to take up extreme unicycling!

New Year, New Attitude

2007-01-14T23:06:00.000-03:30

Okay, so it's a new year, and I'm going to have to make an effort to have a better year than 2006.

In the first half of 2006 I accomplished a great feat in running in the Tely 10; and in the process I nearly lost 40 pounds.

In the second half I haven't been working out as much, or eating as healthy, and I've gained back about 15 pounds that I had lost. Thats why I've decided to start to take some bigger steps to help succeed.

As I've mentioned in the more recent posts I'm working for Canada's largest fitness club, and our new club is going to be opening in just over a weeks time.

Once the club opens up I'm going to begin working out with a personal trainer on a regular basis and I'll be running more often.

I really miss running, and I haven't been doing as much lately. I imagine that if I had to run for 10 minutes I'ld barf.

Well, as I keep saying in almost every post lately, this needs to change. So I obviously need to find something to encourage me. I've already decided that next "Big Fat Chance" is to complete the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Marathon, so I may as well start training for that now.

Heck, it worked last time.

p.s.- How come no one leaves comments anymore?

I was on CBC last thursday

2006-12-10T11:00:00.000-03:30

Man, this has been a crazy week! I'm super busy with work, I'm in the middle of exams, and I was on CBC radio on Thursday past! (To listen to the interview click here and listen to the Thurs, Dec. 7 broadcast - I'm on at around 13:00).

I've been able to get to the gym a couple of times and I've been eating well. I've lost another pound since the last time I check in. So I now way 213 pounds - down from 241.

Nothing new to report back yet, I'll be doing a group workout tonight with my co-workers, so that should be a lot of fun.

I'll check back later in the week.

p.s.- Thanks to Paula Gale, and Anne Budgell from CBC Radio Noon for having me on!

Back on track

2006-11-24T22:58:00.000-03:30

So, as I posted on Sunday I promised to go to the gym a couple of times during the week, and I am proud to say that I stayed good on that promise.

Since Monday I've gone three times, and I'm going to go again on Sunday. I'm going to try and stick with this schedule of going 4 times a week from now on.

Also, I've changed my workout routine a bit. Now instead of focusing on cardio I'm using the strength machines more than I used to and I can already feel a big difference.

I weighed myself this morning as at the gym as well and I was at 214 (when I stated that I was at 205 last week I was using my home scale. Which is obviously not correct).

I'm not crushed by this, but I really thought I was down more than I was. This also means that I have little chance at meeting my goal of 180 by Christmas, so my new goal is to be under 200 by Christmas.

Also, I'm really enjoying my new job with GoodLife and I can't wait for our club to open so I can work out there.

Now I just need to finish that pesky Business Diploma and my life would be in order...

The "I don't have time to exercise" myth; also - I am a hypocrite

2006-11-19T18:13:00.000-03:30

Okay, so lately I've been talking to a lot of people about working out and exercising, and I've had lots of people say to me "Gee, I sure would love to be able to exercise a couple of times a week, but I just don't have the time".

This statement, no matter how many times I hear it, makes my blood boil. Anyone can find the time to exercise and be active a couple of times a week. It has nothing to do with financial situations, amount of available free time or anything else. Everyone is able to find a way to be active 3 or more times per week. Even if you go to the dollar store and buy a $2.00 skipping rope and use that 3 times a week for 20-30 minutes each time you will be doing yourself such a huge favor!

Now that I have said that I will reveal that I am a huge hypocrite. In the past month I have been super busy with exams/school, finishing up at my old job, and starting my new job and I have only been to the gym once.

Why? Because I was using the old "I don't have enough time to exercise right now" myth. Which also means that I have not been following my Halloween Resolutions that I made up a few posts back.

In the mean time I have been watching what I'm eating, and I have been maintaining my weight for the past month (around 205). But starting tomorrow I will be going to the gym regularly 3-4 times a week, and I will be planning my weeks around the gym.

Also, starting on Friday (and every Friday after) I will be weighing myself at the gym and posting the results here so that I can better measure my results, and keep you guys all up to date.

Also, special thanks to Anshuman Iddamsetty and Current Magazine for mentioning me in their November issue!

Career Change!

2006-11-04T02:41:00.000-03:30

This will just be a short post to let you all know that I have just been hired by Canada's largest fitness club, GoodLife Fitness, as a Management Trainee. Basically I will be selling memberships and club products to potential customers.

This is very exciting for me as I will be helping people who were (and are) like myself. I feel that with my first-hand experience I understand what is going through the mind of someone who has never stepped foot inside a fitness club, and that I will be able to help them take the first steps to living a healthier life.

So that's all for now, but more in the coming week!

Halloween Resolutions

2006-10-16T23:56:00.000-02:30

I've decided to invent something. I've decided to create Halloween Resolutions (as opposed to New Years Resolutions). Basically a Halloween Resolution is exactly the same as a New Years Resolution, just a couple of months early.

So, here goes:

Update more - I know that I don't write in this thing as much as I should, and if I did I would give myself more confidence

Eat better - I don't eat quite as good as I should. I do eat better than I ever have before, but I still tend to snack

Stop snacking - This is my biggest issue with my weight. I snack to frequently and in larger portions than I should

Don't eat after dinner - Unless it's a salad, or something incredibly small. This is due to my issues with snacking and because I tend to snack most after dinner

Plan my week around my exercise - Most days I simply say to myself "I think I'll go for a run in the morning" and then wake up and think "Nah, I'll go in the afternoon" and so forth. If I already have my exercise planned out and a schedule made up it'll be more convenient to exercise

As far as my diet it was really good today. I had oatmeal with a banana for breakfast, a handful of granola before my run, an All Bran bar after my run, turkey on whole wheat and a spinach salad for lunch, and roast beef with carrot, turnip, potato and broccoli for supper.

Anways, that's enough for one day, I'll probably check back later in the week.

Pictures from the 2006 Tely 10

2006-09-22T22:31:00.000-02:30

Okay, I know it's been a long way coming (I ran the Tely two months ago tommorrow), but here at last are the pictures from the Tely.

These first two were taken just after the half-way point.

These four were taken at the finish line.

And these are all of the people that came out to see me cross the finish line: my family, my grandparents, and my buddy Devon.

That's it for the pictures, next time I'll try and have more people with cameras throughout the race route.

As for the weightloss for the week, I went to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; but I've been sick since Thursday and won't be going back till probably next week.

I'm more determined than ever now. I want to lose another 30 pounds by Christmas. So that is my new goal, I'm sure I can do it.

Where were you when you heard about the E. coil in bagged spinach?

2006-09-17T23:43:00.000-02:30

Believe it or not; I was actually eating spinach.

Only I could do such a thing. The worse part is that I had already eaten a bowl from the bag earlier in the day. Lets just hope that I don't get E Coli.

Anyway, you are all probably wondering just where the hell I have been for the past month and a half? Well quite simply I injured my left foot, and fell off the fitness bandwagon for a little while.

But I'm back at it. I obviously couldn't participate in the Penny Mazda 20 km Road Race (my Doctor wouldn't let me), but there will always be next year!

I'm going to the gym now till spring comes and I can get back to running outdoors.

Also, if anyone happened to watch Summer Breeze this Wednesday past you would have seen me on their season re-cap of sporting events. I'm kind of surprised that they chose me. I mean they had segments from the USA-Canada Rugby finalist game, the Royal St. John's Regatta, and myself!

Also, I now have a scanner so I will be uploading my Tely 10 pictures very soon (R.J. if you are reading this and M.P. hasn't left for work yet remind her to bring in the USB cable. Thanks).

I'm also going to be changing a few of my fat chances because I want to focus more on running next year (as in, I'm hoping to run a bunch of races).

As I mentioned before I fell off the bandwagon after the race, and I have come to accept that in order for me to be successful in my long-term weight loss I need to sometimes fail.

Before I ran the Tely I weighed roughly 211 pounds (down 30 from 241). When I weighted myself this Monday past I was at 215 pounds, so in the month that I used as a "Fat Holiday" I only gained 4 pounds, and I'm okay with that.

Long week

2006-08-01T20:25:00.000-02:30

Well it's been a week since I completed the Tely 10 and I've already decided on what my next Big Fat Chance will be.

I've decided to take part in the Penny Mazda NLAA Provincial 20km Road Race this August 27th. That only gives me just around 4 weeks to train for it, but I know I can do it.

I sat down this morning and wrote out a training plan for myself. It was an interesting experience to sit down and try and figure out how I should train for this event, but I know that I will definetly be able to complete if I follow my plan.

Besides for that I've taken this week pretty easy. I didn't exercise very much and I was a bit more lax on what I was putting into my mouth, but I'm back to normal now. Running 5 days a week, going to the gym a couple of times a week, and I'm about to take up swimming, so I'm hoping to start seeing even more changes.

Anyway, that's enough for one day. Pictures from the Tely will be coming later in the week.

Big Fat Chances

2006-08-01T20:12:00.000-02:30

1. Complete the Tely 10 Road Race (Completed July 23, 2006)
2. Complete the Newfoundland Provincial Marathon
3. Complete The Works St. John's Triathlon

*Please note that this post can (and will) be up-dated and changed from time to time*

Complete the Tely 10 - Check

2006-07-24T09:49:00.000-02:30

So I completed the Tely 10 yesterday morning and I feel great.

The whole experience was amazing! I can't even put into words how awesome it was to just watch the 1000+ people running ahead of me as we started to turn onto Topsail Rd.

I met my goal time of under 2 hours. I completed in 1:54:23 (I believe that's correct. I'll have official time later today or tomorrow).

The run itself was one of the easiest run's I've ever been on due to all of the adrenaline. I never felt particularly tired at any point. I remembered to take walking breaks every 10 minutes, and I was able to drink lots of water at the water stations.

I remember at mile 7 the Police Officer directing traffic was telling us there was only 3 miles left to which I yelled back "Who can't run 3 miles?". The spectators laughed. Man do I love getting a laugh from strangers.

Miles 7-8 were the best for spectators. I could tell that a lot of the people who lived on this part of the route look forward to the race every year and truly enjoy handing out moist sponges, bottles of water, turning on their hoses to cool us down, and just applauding the competitors.

The last mile was really awesome. It was pretty much entirely downhill and that is where the most spectators had come out to cheer us on. I couldn't make out what most of them were saying, due to the loud cheers and all, but it was pretty cool. Rounding the corner and sprinting to the finish line was spectacular. I was able to run right by my Grandparents, but I wasn't able to see anyone else who had come out to see me. I gave a high five to the announcer just as I crossed the finish line, and then it was over. My first "Fat Chance". I'll be sure to update later the week with a list of the other "Fat Chances" I'll be taking, but for the time being, it's a secret.

Well, that's all I have to say about that. I would just like to thank my family and friends who came out or wished me well on my run, the staff and participants at the Running Room Personal Best Clinic, and anyone else who I may have forgotten.

Also, don't forget to watch me tonight on Summer Breeze on Rogers Cable 9 at 7:30 Newfoundland Time (It will also be repeating all night, so you'll have lots of opportunities to see me).

PS- Pictures will be coming later the week after I've had a chance to get film developed, scanned, and uploaded to the web.

Come see me run tomorrow!

2006-07-22T23:22:00.000-02:30

Alright guy's! This is it! Tomorrow I will complete my first Fat Chance, and I will run in the 79th Annual Tely 10 Road Race. Too date I have lost 30 pounds, and I hope to lose another 40-50 before I reach my goal weight of around 160.

I know I said that I was going to update everyday throughout the week, and I know that I didn't, and for that I apologies, but it's simply been a crazy week.

I attended my final clinic on Wednesday, I went for a light run on Thursday, I got my t-shirt made on Friday, and now I'm going to run tomorrow.

So if anyone else is running in the morning, or going to cheer on a friend I will be wearing a white t-shirt w/ I took my Big Fat Chance written on it. Please feel free to yell at me from the crowds, or to slap me on the back as you pass me in the race.

Also, I will be interviewed tomorrow for Rogers Cable 9's summer program Summer Breeze, which will be showing on Monday evening at 7:30 pm Newfoundland Time. Make sure to check it out!

Ran around Quidi Vidi today

2006-07-18T23:50:00.000-02:30

Today was pretty un-eventful. I met a friend this morning, and the two of us ran around Quidi Vidi lake, and through a bit of downtown. Then I went by Spun to see what was up with my shirt but they weren't going to be open till 1:00, so I went home.

Then I made some delicious ground chicken in pasta sauce and had it on whole wheat spaghetti with a spinach salad.

All in all, it was a good day and a good preparation for the run on Sunday.

Tomorrow will be my last day with the clinic. I have a hard time believing that it's over, but I know that I'll join again next year and have an even better time.

Lazy day today

2006-07-17T21:11:00.000-02:30

I haven't done much today. I didn't have work today, and I didn't have anything that needed to be done at home so I've pretty much sat around all day.

I think it's for the best though, seeing as how I have to run for the next 4 days before Saturday (I'm going to take Saturday off as well), and then the race on Sunday!

I'm still just as pumped as ever. I'm supposed to run with an associate of mine tommorrow, so I'll tell you all how that goes tommorrow.

Anywho, thats all for now!

One week to the Tely!

2006-07-16T23:25:00.000-02:30

This is it! Crunch time. One week from today I will have completed my first Fat Chance. I am super excited right now, I just finished running 5 miles on the treadmill and I feel great!

I have decided that I enjoy using the treadmill more than running outdoors. So I plan on using the treadmill a lot more from now on. I believe that it will help me monitor my progress more than I am currently.

I'm also hoping to start swimming on a regular basis as well. I think that with a combination of swimming and running I should be able to get myself in shape in no time.

I know that this post is kinda jumbled, but I'm just super pumped right now, and I also wanted to let everyone know that I'm planning on posting every day this week till the Tely just so you all can see how I'm doing (both physically and emotionally).

So what is all of this about?

2006-07-06T23:14:00.000-02:30

This morning while on my run I started thinking about my web site and how I have yet to clearly state what I am doing, how I am doing it, and why I am doing it. So I have decided to explain myself.

Initially I wanted to call my web site "Fat Chance" because I realized that this is the chance I have at losing weight and becoming healthy. I also realized that I could partake in a series of sports events as types of goals to help motivate myself. The first goal was to run the Tely 10, a annual 10 mile road race that has been held in my city for 79 years. With a lot of training, and some help from Running Room, I am very close to completing that goal or "fat chance".

After the Tely I will post the other "fat chances" that I will be doing in my quest for a healthier body.

So that is where the "Fat Chance" part of "Big Fat Chance" came from, so now you must be wondering why there's a "Big" in there!

Quite simply I had to add the "Big" because someone else already registered "Fat Chance".

As far as eating I basically try not to eat as many bad foods as I used to, and now I eat vegetables. When I was a little boy my Mother would try and get me to eat my vegetables, and I would refuse (and I mean refuse). Until one day she just gave up, and for the next 15 years the only vegetable I ate was potatoes (I don't blame her for giving up on trying to get me to eat properly).

So now I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, and not as much snacking, and lots of whole grains. Mix in 5 days of running a week, and some time in at the gym and you'll end up with me!

Also, I went to Spun downtown today, ordered my custom made t-shirt, and she should be ready for next Wednesday. This'll be totally bitchin!

T minus two weeks and three days

2006-07-05T21:47:00.000-02:30

This past week has been a strange one. It first started early last week when I had a slight pain in my foot. It was on the top of my foot, above my toes. It went away after two days and I didn't run on either of those days for fear of injuring myself.

Then after not running on two days that I was supposed to run on I got into a weird funk. I just didn't feel like running, or exercising, or eating particularly good. So for almost a week I didn't go on any long runs, or hit the gym, or eat all that great.

But as soon as I got to tonight's clinic I was out of my funk. Everybody was starting to get excited about the race, and as the weeks have been going on we've been getting to know each other better so we're a lot more friendlier than we were seven weeks ago.

tomorrow afternoon I'll be going to Spun downtown (they're a custom clothing store that can print t-shirts with whatever you want on them) and having a Big Fat Chance t-shirt made up that I'm going to wear during the race!

Anyway, to end this post I'll just say that I'm officially pumped and excited and I can't wait to cross the finish line on the 23rd!

Just a quickie

2006-06-22T12:42:00.000-02:30

The past week has gone fairly well. I didn't get to go on a long run on Sunday due to work and Father's Day, so I took Sunday off from exercise and went for a 12 km run Monday evening.

Then on Tuesday morning I went with my Father to his store and ran home, and yesterday I weight trained at the gym followed by my running clinic, and finally today I ran home from my Fathers store again.

All in all it's been pretty busy getting all of my running in, but I know it'll be worth it when I complete the Tely 10!

I just ran 16 km; my body's going to hate me tomorrow

2006-06-11T16:06:00.000-02:30

Okay, I know it's been forever and a day since I last up-dated; but I've been very busy!

So here's a quick update on what's happening with me. The running is coming along very well, I lost an entire week due to being ill, and it was a bitch to get back into the swing of things, but everything is cool as of right now.

As this entries title my suggest I did run 16 kilometers today (which is equal to approximately 10 miles - the length of the Tely 10) and it was surprisingly easy.

I ran from my home to my fathers dollar store (8 kilometers away) and back. The best part was that my family didn't know that I would be running that far today so when I walked in the front door my sister (whom was working behind the cash) asked me what I was doing going for a run in this part of town. She was surprised when I told her that I had run from home! The I went in to my Father's office and he asked me where I was coming from, and when I told him home he asked me how come I was out of breath! It's hilarious that the thought of me running from my house to our store didn't cross either of their minds!

As for my weight, as of last night I weighed 220 pounds which means that I've lost a total of 21 pounds since February (but if you asked me in real life I'ld tell you 25 pounds).

So tomorrow I'm relaxing and then on Tuesday I have to run 8 kilometers, so I guess I'll get a ride with my Father to his store and run home.

Look at me! I'm a runner!

2006-05-21T18:56:00.000-02:30

So I attended my first running clinic at Running Room this past Wednesday. It was very interesting. There were over 100 other people in the clinic with the same goal of running the Tely 10, however I believe I was the only person who was not wearing Running Room clothing from head-to-toe.

But that's not the point of this post. The point is for me to talk about my new experiences with running. Since Wednesday I've ran twice more, I ran 4 km on Thursday and 5 km on Friday, and I'm about to run 8 km now. It's all part of the running schedule that is part of my clinic.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying running, and I know that I'm going to be able to run the Tely 10 (even though others in my life doubt me - more on that another time), and I can't wait to lose some more weight with all of this extra cardio-vascular workouts I'm getting!

PS - Diz iz a shout out to all my avalon mallz peepz

Way to go Steve!

2006-05-10T01:16:00.000-02:30

Just dropping a quick line to congradulate Steve Vaught on completing his journey from San Diego to New York City!

He was a major insperation for me to start getting into shape, and he has just finished his goal of walking across the United States!

I wish him the very best in the future, and I hope that he gets some well deserved rest!

90 days till the Tely 10!

2006-04-24T21:27:00.000-02:30

It's time for me to start cracking down again, and get really serious. The Tely 10 and I've still got a long way to go.

I know I can do it though. I've already started running on my own to build up my tolerance, and I know that the Running Room clinic is going to be a big help once that gets started.

But for the time being I'm going to try and change my lifestyle by getting up early in the morning and going to bed at a reasonable hour. I started doing that this morning, and I already feel better. I was up and to the gym at by 9:00 AM and on my way home by 11:00 AM, thus leaving me with the rest of the day to get things done at a regular pace.

As well I was also able to have all 3 meals at normal times today! Before I would eat breakfast when I got up at 11:00, then eat lunch when I got back from the gym at 2:00, and I would eat supper at around 4:00 before I would go to work. This meant that I was eating all 3 meals in approximately 5 hours! Now, I'm no nutritionist, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't healthy.

I'll update any weight-loss later this week!

The arse fell out of her

2006-04-18T23:16:00.000-02:30

Yeah, so I didn't stick to my guns for the last week, and as the title says "the arse fell out of her". From my last post to today I didn't get back to the gym. I also didn't eat very well for the last week so as a result, I gained 2 more pounds, so as of today I weigh 227.

But I won't discourage myself! I went to the gym today, I ate three sensible meals, and I have a fridge full of "good" foods!

So my new plan is to be down to 223 by Friday! I'll let you know then how I do!

Long time no see...

2006-04-11T11:19:00.000-02:30

Hey, It's been a while since I posted, my bad. I've had a bunch of school work to be doing, but I'm all done now for the summer, so I'm focusing on losing a lot of weight over the next couple of months.

I'm still going to the gym, and right now I'm down to around 225. I've decided that by this Sunday (April 16th) I want to be down to 220. Then from now on I'm going continue setting small goals rather than "just try to lose weight". I feel that this will help keep myself motivated.

Also, I've just signed up for a clinic with Running Room to help me train for the Tely 10, my ultimate goal.

So now I'm also going to start running as well as going to the gym. The real benefit here is that If I can't get to the gym some day, I could still slap my sneakers on, and go for a run.

Anyways, thats all I have to report on for right now, and thanks to all of the strangers who have been leaving me nice messages! You're really boosting my ego!

I think I hit a plateau

2006-03-23T13:21:00.000-03:30

Not much has changed in the past week or so. I'm still getting to the gym almost daily, and I'm eating healthier, but I haven't lost any weight the week.

Last time I posted I said that I had lost 5 more pounds. For the next couple of days after that post I lost an additional 3 pounds, but since then I haven't lost a single pound. I've been at 230 for about a week now.

I'm not really concerned because I read somewhere that it is normal for person's to "plateau" several time during weight loss.

One weird thing that I've noticed is that it takes very little for me to get "full" now. Like the other day I was starving for a snack in my house, and all that we had were 50g bags of chips (bad, I know). So I decided to have a bag, and I couldn't even finish them. Before I began this journey I could have sat down and eaten 4 or 5 bags of chips in one sitting.

Cheers to stomach shrinkage!

Good News

2006-03-09T22:44:00.000-03:30

Alright, I'm going to keep this short because I have a long day ahead of me tommorrow, and I want to go to bed soon.

I mentioned on tuesday that last week I gained 3 pounds, and that I was going to be cutting out garbage foods completely, and since monday I have only been eating food that is good for me.

Well, I am proud to tell you all that since then I have lost 4 pounds, so now I weigh 233 pounds!

Confession time...

2006-03-07T16:46:00.000-03:30

Well it's been a while since I updated. Last Monday I weighed in at 234 (which meant that I had lost another pound), but yesterday I weighed in at 237. So in the past week I've gained 3 pounds.

This has come as a wake-up call to me. I had stated before that I was going to cut out all junk-type foods, and for the most part I have, but I was still "cheating". I would sneak into Burger King late at night and get a double bacon cheeseburger meal. When I was buying my groceries I would also buy a small container of chicken wings to eat in the car.

That has seriously come to an end as of today. Since I have chosen to measure my weekly progress I now know what happens when I "cheat". So from now on I will make a serious effort to not eat "garbage foods". I've purchased rice cakes, All Bran bars, and banana's to snack on.

Some people will read this and think that I'm kinda pathetic because I couldn't control my urges to eat junk food. I don't think these people know just how hard it is to change the way you eat.

To put it into perspective, it was easier for me to quit smoking than it is for me to give up the junk food. I guess that's because I only smoked for a couple of years, but I've been eating junk food for over 20 years.

Anyway, that's all for now, hopefully I'll be after losing some more weight by next week.

ps - Thanks to Steve Vaught for putting me on his Links Page! It's truly an honor!

www.thefatmanwalking.com

2006-02-26T18:26:00.000-03:30

I've decided to talk about a man that has helped inspire me to loose weight and get in to shape: Steve Vaught.

Steve is an overweight husband and father who has decided to walk accross the America to "loose weight and regain his life".

Steve left his home in San Diego on April 10th 2005 and is currently less than 700 miles from his destination: New York City. In this time he has lost more than 100 pounds going from 410 lbs to 302 lbs.

More importantly, Steve has learned on his walk "not to judge health by a scale of weight but by a scale of mental harmony".

In short – cure the mind and the ass will follow!

Another one bits the dust

2006-02-21T00:44:00.000-03:30

Not much to say this week. I've lost another pound (3 pounds total), and I'm getting even more serious with the healthy eating.

I've switched to decaffinated green tea from coffee, I'm eating spinich salad as a snack food, and I'm taking a multi-vitamin daily. Now if I can just remember to go see my Doctor and see what he thinks of all this.

Also, I can tell that this title thing is going to start to suck because (quite frankly) my life is not exciting enough to require headlines (school -> gym -> work -> repeat). So from here on out I'm only going to be posting the date, unless I reach some really big goals (say 50 pounds or something). In which case I will celebrate with a headline.

Going it alone

2006-02-14T23:09:00.000-03:30

I just came back from the gym and for the first time I tried to weight train by myself. Whenever I have gone before it was with a buddy of mine who knows what he is doing. This time I was by myself and I felt pretty useless.

Before I went I googled for some weight training resources and came up with not very much, but I did find one sight that seemed pretty promising. But by the time I had gotten to the gym I had forgotten most of what I had read and I'm pretty sure I looked like a fool.

It didn't help matters that I was surrounded by numerous people who were quite buff, and quite obviously knew what they were doing (these were they types who write down stuff as they worked out).

Anyway, enough of that. I weighed myself again today and I was down to 236. That means in the past week I've lost two pounds, and that I have now lost two pounds in total.

That's pretty encouraging, now lets hope I can keep the momentum.

A new start... again

2006-02-12T01:34:00.000-03:30

This is my second attempt at a weight loss blog.

I've deleated my previous blog because I slacked off the last time I tried to lose weight and I was embarrased by the web site.

Well I've started going back to the gym; and for the last several weeks I've been going almost daily. I always do 40 minutes of cardio, I mix it up between the cross-trainer and the treadmill, and I throw in some weight training, just for good measure.

So anyway this is my second blog, and this is my big fat chance. That is to say that this is the chance I am taking at no longer being fat by exercising and eating healthier.

I currently weigh 238 pounds and I will be weighing myself often and letting everyone here know of my progress.

As for my goal; I'm striving to simply live a healthier lifestyle and to look better physically. As for a long term goal I intend to run in this year's Tely 10, a 10 mile road race in my home town.

Thats all for now.